1/91. An expert system for the interpretation of flow cytometric immunophenotyping data.The development of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in HIV-positive patients and patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a well known phenomenon. The proper classification of these neoplasms often requires a multiparameter approach, including the interpretation of a large panel of immunologic markers analyzed by flow cytometry. The availability of individuals with the required expertise to properly interpret these marker studies is limited. For this reason, we have designed an expert system to automate the analysis of immunophenotyping panels in both HIV-related and non-HIV-related hematopoietic neoplasms. The expert system, which we call "Professor Fidelio", runs on IBM-compatible computers under Windows 3.0. The system is designed to accept any number of markers studied from a repertoire of 35 markers. Professor Fidelio functions on the basis of heuristic classification of defined diagnostic patterns. Nine specific patterns (Stem Cell, Myeloid and/or Monocytic, Erythroid, Megakaryocytic, Immature B-cell, Immature T-cell, Mature B-cell, Mature T-cell, and Plasma cell) and one "non-specific" pattern have been agreed upon. Fidelio's knowledge base contains the definitions of each of these patterns and the heuristics for excluding patterns when an incomplete panel of markers is performed. The inference engine interprets the findings (including the age of the patient) and reports the patterns which are matched, the differential diagnosis, the suggested diagnosis from the list of differentials if the marker studies are specific, and recommendations for additional tests which may be valuable in establishing the diagnosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/91. Case of the month: March 1999--A 26 year old HIV positive male with dura based masses.A 26-year-old male with AIDS presented with a chief complaint of headaches and neck pain. An MRI revealed two enhancing extra-axial dura based masses, one in the area of the left sphenoid wing and one at the level of C2-3. In both cases, microscopic sections showed actin positive spindle cell neoplasms with long slender nuclei, consistent with leiomyomas. Both tumors were positive for Epstein Barr virus by in situ hybridization. This case report serves to emphasize the importance of considering soft tissue tumors such as leiomyoma in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions that occur in the central nervous system in AIDS and discusses the role of EBV in tumorigenesis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/91. glioblastoma multiforme in a case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: investigation a possible oncogenic influence of human immunodeficiency virus on glial cells. Case report and review of the literature.Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain neoplasm, but generally it is not included in the differential diagnosis of enhancing lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) in patients suffering from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We report a case of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in a 29-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Primary CNS lymphoma was suspected, making a definitive histological diagnosis crucial. An initial stereotactic biopsy sample was insufficient to establish a diagnosis and a second biopsy of the lesion was obtained. The histopathological investigation confirmed GBM and adjuvant external radiation treatment was given to the patient, who survived for 4 months after the initial biopsy. A decline in the rate of toxoplasma infection and the changing diseases observed in HIV infection indicate the importance of obtaining a biopsy in cases of CNS mass lesions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/91. Splenic smooth-muscle tumors in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: report of two cases of this unusual location with evidence of an association with Epstein-Barr virus.Smooth-muscle neoplasms are rarely located in the spleen. They have been previously reported in five cases of children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Two cases of children with HIV infection/AIDS with autopsy and surgical pathology evidence of multiple smooth-muscle neoplasms with splenic involvement are presented. dna was extracted from histology slides in both cases for analysis for Epstein Barr (EB) virus. In both cases, the presence of EB virus was confirmed. This paper documents two additional cases of the unusual phenomenon of splenic involvement by smooth-muscle neoplasms in the setting of AIDS in childhood and further supports the role of EB virus in the development of these neoplasms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/91. central nervous system leiomyosarcoma in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Report of two cases.Leiomyosarcomas (LMSs) of the central nervous system are extremely rare; however, they are becoming more prevalent in immunocompromised patients. The authors present the cases of two patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: one with LMS of the thoracic vertebral body and the other with LMS originating from the region of the cavernous sinus. The epidemiological and histological characteristics of LMS and its association with latent Epstein-Barr virus are discussed, as well as the treatments for this neoplasm.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/91. Primary nodal neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) tumor in a patient with HIV infection.Lymphadenopathy in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be of diverse etiology, ranging from infection to cancer. A neoplasm of epithelial origin manifested as inguinal lymphadenopathy without a primary lesion is rare. We report a case of Merkel cell tumor confined only to a lymph node in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We believe this is the first report of primary nodal Merkel cell tumor in a patient with HIV. Because Merkel cell tumor is a rare skin neoplasm with features suggestive of high malignant potential, it is important to distinguish a primary nodal Merkel cell tumor from malignant metastatic processes on the one hand and relatively benign causes of adenopathy on the other.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/91. Clinicopathological characterization of an hiv-2-infected individual with two clonally unrelated primary lymphomas.Human immunodeficiency virus 2 (hiv-2) is endemic in West africa and is a causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Only a small number of hiv-2-infected patients have been described in detail. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is the second most common neoplasm occurring in hiv-1-infected patients, but its incidence seems to be lower in hiv-2-infected individuals. We report an hiv-2-infected patient from cape verde (West africa) with separate and distinct systemic and primary central nervous system large B-cell lymphomas and review the findings of cases of hiv-2-associated lymphomas reported in the literature. Different clonal rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene could be detected in the two lymphomas of our patient by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. These data indicate the presence of two clonally unrelated large B-cell lymphomas in the same patient, which is an unusual finding. Neither Epstein-Barr virus nor human herpesvirus 8 could be detected in the tumor tissues or the cerebrospinal fluid. hiv-2 infection should be considered in patients with NHL, especially in those from West africa.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/91. Hepatic leiomyomatous neoplasm associated with Epstein Barr virus infection in an adult with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.Focal lesions in the liver in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pose an important clinical problem. Hepatic smooth-muscle tumor is rare in AIDS patients and has been reported mostly in children. We describe a 32-year-old male AIDS patient, with previous disseminated tuberculosis, who developed a small tumor in the liver. liver biopsy disclosed an unusual hepatic leiomyomatous neoplasm that was associated with Epstein Barr virus infection. It differed from the more common Kaposi's sarcoma and presented a relatively benign course.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/91. Novel association of haemophagocytic syndrome with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-related primary effusion lymphoma.Haemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a fulminant, often fatal, systemic illness that occurs in association with infection and malignancy. We provide the first report of HPS that heralded a primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a rare neoplasm linked to Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. The patient was a 38-year-old man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with fever, sweats, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and refractory anaemia. Examination of the spleen demonstrated haemophagocytosis; analysis of ascites revealed PEL. Treatment with chemotherapy and ganciclovir resulted in complete remission of both conditions. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges posed by HPS and supports the trial of antiviral agents in combination with chemotherapy in patients with PEL.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/91. multiple myeloma as the first manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.Various hematologic malignancies and solid tumors are increasingly diagnosed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and may be the presenting manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). multiple myeloma, however, has never been reported as the presenting manifestation of AIDS. We report on a 34-year-old man who presented with back pain, paresthesias, paraparesis, vertebral bony disease, and an associated soft tissue mass. biopsy of the mass revealed immature plasmacytes with very faint cytoplasmic expression of kappa light chains. bone marrow biopsy revealed 25% infiltration with poorly characterized malignant cells and 15% polyclonal plasma cells. Immunofixation of serum and urine was positive for IgG kappa and kappa light chains, respectively. A bone survey revealed lesions in the skull, left femur bone, and the pelvis. The diagnosis of an anaplastic myeloma was made. Because of the poorly characterized nature of the malignant cells and the difficulties in immunophenotyping, serologic evaluation for HIV was undertaken and was positive. The concept of myeloma as an opportunistic neoplasm defining AIDS was considered. We discuss this view and recommend that patients with multiple myeloma with poorly characterized myeloma cells as well as difficulties in immunophenotyping should undergo testing for HIV infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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